THE Beast from the East provided a "real opportunity" to help the homeless in Greater Manchester the region's mayor has said.

Andy Burnham revealed the emergency provision opened when temperatures dropped below freezing meant a lot of people were able to receive extra support as they were in accommodation longer.

Mr Burnham said: "It’s this approach we want to amplify this winter."

The project called A Bed Every Night will provide warmth, safety and food in the short term before working with people to help them into existing homelessness projects.

Homelessness has been a key issue for the mayor since he took office in 2017, he has been donating 15 per cent of his £110,000 a year salary.

To donate yourself visit bedeverynight.co.uk. £3 will pay for a hot meal in a shelter for someone who would have slept on the streets. £10 will pay for bedding and toiletries. £30 pays for someone a hot evening meal, a safe bed for the night and someone to talk to so they can get off and stay off the streets this winter.

The project is a partnership between the 10 Manchester councils.